Pissaladière Niçoise (Onion and Anchovy Tart)

From the cooking traditions of Nice, pissaladière sits somewhere between a flatbread and a savoury tart: a yeasted base spread with a generous layer of slow-softened onions, then finished with anchovies and black olives. The onions should be silky and sweet rather than browned, giving the tart its mellow depth, while the anchovies bring a clean saline punch and the olives add briny intensity. Served warm or at room temperature, it works well cut into squares for sharing, as a light dinner with salad, or as part of a relaxed aperitif spread.
Cuisine style Niçoise French savoury baking
Flavor profile Sweet onion • Briny anchovy • Herby olive oil
Techniques Yeasted dough • Slow-cooking onions • Baking
Key equipment Oven • Baking tray • Saucepan
Cooking style Make-ahead friendly • Crowd-friendly
Time commitment Slow-cooked

Why this recipe works

  • Slow-cooked onions: Cooking the onions gently keeps them pale, silky and sweet, which is central to the character of pissaladière.
  • Deep savoury balance: Anchovies and olives bring salt and umami, while thyme, garlic and olive oil round out the topping.
  • Good warm or at room temperature: The yeasted base stays sturdy enough to slice cleanly, making the tart suitable for sharing, packed lunches or an apéritif spread.

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Authenticity notes

  • Niçoise style: Pissaladière is closer to a savoury bread tart than a quiche: there is no custard, and the topping is built around onions, anchovies and black olives.
  • Pale, sweet onions: The onions should soften slowly without browning, giving the tart its mellow sweetness rather than a caramelised flavour.
  • Anchovy character: Some traditional versions use pissalat or an anchovy-based paste; anchovy fillets give a clear, practical briny finish.

Timing notes

  • Use the rise time well: Cook the onions while the dough rises so the workflow stays efficient despite the longer total time.
  • Let the dough fully rise: The dough should double in size before shaping; a cooler kitchen will slow this down.
  • Cool before slicing: A short rest after baking helps the topping settle and gives cleaner slices.

Common mistakes

  • Browning the onions: Keep the heat low and stir regularly; darkened onions can make the topping taste too sharp and heavy.
  • Adding wet onions: Let excess moisture cook off before spreading the onions over the dough, or the base can turn soft in the centre.
  • Forgetting the anchovies: Anchovies and olives are both salty, so season the onions carefully and adjust only as needed.

Make-ahead tips

  • Cook the onions ahead: The onion topping can be prepared in advance and refrigerated, then brought back towards room temperature before assembling.
  • Reheat on a tray: Reheat slices on a baking tray at 180°C (355°F) until piping hot to help the base regain structure.
  • Freeze baked slices: Cool the tart completely, wrap well and freeze; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients

Dough

Topping

Instructions
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  1. In a mixing bowl, stir together the plain flour, fine sea salt and instant yeast. Add the extra virgin olive oil and lukewarm water, then mix to a shaggy dough and knead for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover and leave to rise until doubled in size.
  2. Meanwhile, peel and thinly slice the yellow onion. Warm the extra virgin olive oil in a saucepan over low heat, add the onions and fine sea salt, and cook gently for 35 to 45 minutes, stirring often, until very soft and sweet but not browned. Finely slice the garlic, add it for the last 2 minutes, then strip in the fresh thyme leaves and remove the thyme stalks.
  3. Heat the oven to 220°C (430°F). Tip the risen dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll it into a rough rectangle about 30 x 40 cm. Transfer to a baking tray and pinch up a slight rim around the edge.
  4. Spread the onion mixture evenly over the dough. Arrange the anchovy fillets in a loose lattice over the top, then scatter over the black pitted olives. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until the crust is golden and the topping is sizzling at the edges.
  5. Leave the tart to cool for 10 minutes so it slices cleanly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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Recipe notes

Tips

  • Keep the onions on a low heat and stir regularly; they should turn silky and sweet without taking on colour.
  • If your anchovy fillets are very salty, blot them briefly with kitchen paper before topping the tart.
  • For best texture, slice with a serrated knife once the tart has cooled slightly.

Substitutions

  • Replace Fresh thyme with Fresh oregano for a more aromatic, peppery herb note.
  • Replace Plain flour with Bread flour for a slightly chewier, more structured base.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 3 days
  • Cool completely, then refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Reheat slices on a baking tray at 180°C (355°F) for 8 to 12 minutes until piping hot. Freeze well wrapped for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

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Pissaladière Niçoise (Onion and Anchovy Tart)
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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 4 servings
  • Yield: onion tart
  • Total time: 2h 30min (55min active)
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Cuisine: French
  • Allergens:
    Fish Gluten Wheat
Freezer friendly

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